The Perfection of Simplicity

Simplicity - one word with one meaning. Simplicity I wish I could go back to the summer days of my childhood where simply one of my friends would visit me and it would be the coolest thing that he could do, or that having all my friends over would be my best memories. I loved all the years where right after school all my friends would come over and we would jump on my trampoline or play our silly card games or my game cube and it was just perfect... 4 friends sitting (or jumping) having so much fun.

Welcome to my Tribe...

Tribes? Well the tribes i see myself in are the Indie Rock Groupie tribe. The substance over style tribe. The English loving, Science hating tribe. I'm apart of the loving Italian and Mexican food tribe, I'm apart of the teenagers who just desperately want their license and a job. I'm apart of the I believe I should have been born in the 70's tribe. I'm apart of the Band Geek tribe. I'm apart of the tribe of teens who want a Mustang as their first car. I'm in the tribe that loves to fourwheel. I'm also in the tribe that believes eveyone is different for a reason. Lastly i'm in the tribe that loves weekends and that they should be used to the fullest extent.

ThisIBelieve Essay...Individualism

I believe in... Individualsm

I believe in the power of Individualism. I think that we were put on this world to do something. Whether it's something like share the Word of God, or play basketball, or play music, we were put on this world to share our talents. I think that even though we are different, we should be able to transcend social boundaries and unite as a community, a country, a world or, even more important, friends. I believe in the power of self-expression. I think that you show your style through the way you socialize, dress,  or the people you surround yourself.

I think that people shouldn’t make judgements before really getting to know someone. For example, when I was younger I was awkward. I never knew how to talk to people. It was especially bad when I was in middle school: I never had many friends and a lot of people thought I was annoying. People just made assumptions about me and never got to know me. I was always made fun of, primarily behind my back. Even my "friends" made fun of me. I was usually made fun of about my people skills. It was especially bad because I didn't have someone to really talk to about it, but thankfully my savior, was my best friend Ryan he helped me through and was always a positive influence.

I think that individualism is greatly shown in the world. A great example of this is jazz.  Jazz alone is the most self-expressive genre of music in the world. Jazz - pulls you in, tells a story - it proclaims love, hate, disparity, and happiness. Jazz comes from the heart, it's you either have it or you don't. It protrudes different forms: Cool, Hard, Blues, Funky, Ragtime, Swing, Dixieland, and they all transcend boundaries of Music in their own way. These forms also demonstrate how different and complex we really are. I think that the message of jazz is this: even though you hear a line like "Oh, my baby left me, and now I'm feeling the blues," every artist would sing it differently and put their individual ‘stamp’ on it. I think that even though people think the infamous Lady Gaga is crazy, I like her philosophy on individualism: you shouldn't listen to the ‘nay-sayers’. Just listen to your heart and your mind, do want you feel is right and what makes you feel good (well, besides murder or theft or just breaking the law in general). Be yourself - don't worry about what people think. We are all different for a reason, so do what you feel in your heart is right.

I believe in individualism. I think that people shouldn’t make judgements before really getting to know someone. I think that individualism is shown greatly throughout the world. I think that we were put on this world for a greater cause, and no matter what it is we should be proud of it.

Duh... Shout it loud and be Proud!

I believe I am a Drummer. I am loud and I'm proud, to an extent. I love hanging out with my friends, and going out, and being in the moment. I am just one of those people that can get so excited about seeing the first snow, or an old friend, or that doesn't mind making a total fool of myself. I think extroverts have it easier because if your an introvert there would be like almost no fun I mean you have your friends but your usually quiet, and shy and have some sort of anti-social morale. If everyone was an introvert the world would be...quiet. If everyone was an extrovert the world would be well...loud, there everyone would speak there mind and there would be people everywhere. Extroverts are better leaders in my opinion, they're not afraid to take charge and tell people what to do. Introverts are better writers because they have all these ideas in their head but keep it bottled up because they don't want to share or they're to nervous too, so they keep stored in their mind and can use it in their writing. I prefer to have both kinds of friends i love my loud friends and my quiet ones so yah.  I love driving through the town, or going to see a show, or eat dinner out, I love seeing the city when it's bustling when people are out and are shopping and laughing. I would rather drive around town than stay at home and play video games any day.

Reality- Truth or Perception

"Better keep yourself clean and bright; you are the window through which you must see the world." - George Bernard Shaw. I like this quote because it's better to view the world in a positive view than in a negative perspective. Our perspective on the world is about as diverse as us, we all view the world differently and usually is reflects the beliefs we were grown up with.

Life Rewards Actions

Actions speak louder than words. Yes it's cheesy, yes it's overused but yes it's true. What you do is more rewarding, more important, and more influential, than what you say. You can say that your going to do something but to truly commit you must act upon your words. Someone would be more impressed if you came to visit them then calling them on the phone. Like what my dad always says "You get what you deserve."

Beat! Beat! Drums! - Walt Whitman

Beat! Beat! Drums! - Walt Whitman is a poem of intense proportions about the horrors of war and the effects it has on a countries morals and how it effects the way of living in that country. He cleverly uses precise detail of specific moments to get the intensity of his message acrossed. For example “Nor the peaceful farmer any peace, plowing his field or gathering his grain…"

Beat! Beat! Drums! -- Blow! Bugles! Blow!

Through the windows -- through doors -- burst like a ruthless force,

Into the solemn church, and scatter the congregation,

Into the school where the scholar is studying;

Leave not the bridegroom quiet -- no happiness must he have now with his bride,

Nor the peaceful farmer any peace, ploughing his field or gathering his grain,

So fierce you whirr and pound you drums -- so shrill you bugles blow.

Beat! beat! drums! -- blow! bugles! blow!

Over the traffic of cities -- over the rumble of wheels in the streets;

Are beds prepared for sleepers at night in the houses? no sleepers must sleep in those beds,

No bargainers' bargains by day -- no brokers or speculators -- would they continue?

Would the talkers be talking? would the singer attempt to sing?

Would the lawyer rise in the court to state his case before the judge?

Then rattle quicker, heavier drums -- you bugles wilder blow.

Beat! beat! drums! -- blow! bugles! blow!

Make no parley -- stop for no expostulation,

Mind not the timid -- mind not the weeper or prayer,

Mind not the old man beseeching the young man,

Let not the child's voice be heard, nor the mother's entreaties,

Make even the trestles to shake the dead where they lie awaiting the hearses,

So strong you thump O terrible drums -- so loud you bugles blow.

"Son of Long Island" - Walt Whitman

Walt Whitman was one of the most iconic writer of his time. He was popular because of his outstanding essays and poems. He was a realist. He started off as a teacher which he was quite good at, but then he quit to go after his dreams of being a journalist where he found his way into poetry. He was not only a writer but an appreciator politics and music. He was reportedly very fond of our sixteenth president he even wrote a poem about him after he was assassinated. He wrote over four-hundred poems most of which contained musical terms, composers, and instruments.

"Sophmority" - 1 Step Forward or 2 Steps Back?

My sophomore year is so far so good. It has been great when it comes to academics i believe that my Spanish and English are my best classes and are most likely my favorite classes like last year for the exception of Spanish because i did not take Spanish last year. I like how i'm in smaller class sizes and more challenging curriculum. I also am satisfied with the majority of my classes and the grades that i have in them. I also like how i have a bigger chunk of my friends in my classes. So all in all i would say this year is 1 step forward.